Allie-Ann's 5th Birthday Party!

I seriously could not have asked for a better day to have Allie-Ann's 5th birthday. The weather was absolutely beautiful and she had the best time with her friends and family. I still can't believe she will be five in a couple more days. My little girl is growing up! The theme of her party was Doc McStuffins. She just loves that show. Luckily, I was able to find some really good deals to make this theme work.

I'm just so proud of Allie-Ann and how she has developed into such a sweet-spirited little girl. She has a huge heart that I know will do great things in the future. We are so lucky to have her in our lives.  

Doc McStuffins bandaids...made from vanilla wafers and red icing. 

Lambie tails....thanks to pinterest.

 So, they had these at Target in the $1 section. They were 50% off, I just lucked out. I used these for the children's favor bags. 

Doc McStuffins cupcakes. I made the cupcake toppers. So easy!

Birthday pancake. When you start something with Allie-Ann it has to be done every year. I did this for her on her 2nd birthday and she has expected it every year. 

 Ella, Allie-Ann and Belle were the first ones at the table.

 Classic....

 Ella will always be nice to her aunt Wendy!

Allie-Ann's First Dance Class

I've waited for this moment of having a girl and taking her to her first dance class. Well, today was the big day and Allie-Ann just loved it. She's taking a combo class of tap/ballet. So after 30 minutes of tap, she comes out of the studio to change into her ballet shoes for another 30 minutes of ballet. It's a big deal this dancing thing. I just didn't imagine the entire space inside to be filled with a bunch of girls smelling of hair spray (my child included) with their hair pulled up in a little, tiny bun (serious stuff). We aren't ready for the bun yet....heaven help me on that one. But, I was able to slick her hair back pretty good. Other than the hair and tights, I would say that it was a pretty successful first class. She came out all smiles and just wanted to dance more. I'm hoping this is a good sign and that she doesn't get too bored. We WILL make it to the recital and we WILL have pictures of her in a dance costume, even if it is for one year only. But, right now dance is totally cool...as my 4 year old would say. Here are some pictures of my little ballerina!

 Can we say, Nutcracker next year..ha!

 Of course having Allie-Ann's best friend Charlotte at dance with her is a plus. 

Happy Labor Day!

I can't believe that my oldest will be 5 in a couple more days. Lately, I've been just watching her and shaking my head at how old she seems to me. I love it but at the same time I can't stand it. Our conversations lately have been very interesting and humorous. I love that in an almost 5 year old! We've talked about heaven quite a lot and she seems so intrigued. It's been fun having the conversation with her. I just can't believe that you can have conversations this deep with a 5 year old but she very much 'gets' it. 
We've been spoiled by being at the beach for Labor Day and we have enjoyed every last minute of it. 

Of course the girls have runny noses. They've been in school for over 2 weeks now, so it comes with the territory. 

 Sorry for the redundant pictures but I just love these of Belle. 

 My big girl!

I think Allie-Ann may be the next Taylor Swift...she loves to be on stage and sing. She is also a pretty good song writer....if I do say so myself. 

Long Week...

We made it through a very long, tough week. With the girls going back to school and trying to adjust to getting up way too early, managing lunches, getting to work on time (two jobs, mind you), I will say that it's been a little crazy around the Crotwell house. 

It's incredibly tough being a working mom. Don't get me wrong, I like living off two incomes but trying to balance work/life is very tricky. As much as I feel that I've got everything down to a science as far as my organizing, I find that I fall way too short of it being anywhere near calm and orderly. By the end of the week, I look like a hot mess going to work. But, it's just a period in time of raising young children that all must go through so I'm just riding the waves but, man, I just wish I could surf through this part. 

As you know Belle is going through therapy for her speech but with each session, I find that they are finding more with her behavior than with the actual speech thing. Compliance is the word I hear a lot. This week when I picked Belle up, her teachers told me what a great day she had and that she was so sweet but her therapist painted a completely different picture when she came for her visit. Which, quite frankly, I appreciated the realism coming from the therapist. I know who Belle is and the trouble she can be. Lord knows at times I just want to hide away in a closet and pretend that I'm on a deserted island. But, I just know that these days will pass and she will be grown and leaving us but not before I have the opportunity to share with others the tantrums she had the pleasure of showing us each day (video below). 

With the chaos of starting back to school and being away from my girls for 40+ hours, I take delight in the weekends that I can have control over to slow down and to wade through the waves of this so-called life. 

The girls having a picnic on the table Kyle made one afternoon with Allie-Ann.

Story time,  one of my greatest joys!

 Oh yeah, and we got a new car!! It's a Subaru Outback and I absolutely love it....I really do, I haven't found one thing I don't like about it. 

I just thought you might want a look into our real lives...all the sweet pictures I post of the girls all the time, well...here is another side. 

First Day of Kindergarten & 2 year old

The girls had their first day of school today. Allie-Ann in Kindergarten and Belle in the 2's. Allie-Ann, of course, waved me on like the independent child she is, while a tear flowed from my check. Belle, on the other hand, had a death grip on my neck. After her teacher pried her off my neck, surprisingly she didn't cry but I heard later that she did some crying throughout the day. But, I'm hopeful that she has an incredible teacher and that she will adjust sooner than later. Here are some pictures of the girls on their first day.

Allie-Ann's 1 year old picture- FDOS

 Allie-Ann's 2 year old picture- FDOS

 Allie-Ann's 3 year old picture- FDOS

 Allie-Ann's 4 year old picture- FDOS

 Both of my girls!!!

 Belle's 2 year old picture- FDOS

Sisters....

Cousins and Other Random Things

We spent Friday with Kyle's parents and the girls got to play with their cousin Ella. They had so much fun together!

Belle working out with me, she is such a nut.

 So we have a garden...well, not quite. It's actually some tomatoes growing in our compost pile but Kyle has been so proud about it and Allie-Ann has enjoyed picking and eating them for a snack. 

And here is Allie-Ann jumping off the diving board. I'm so glad I didn't spend a fortune for swimming lessons. She's become such the swimmer lately, and really it developed just by going to the pool each day.